Pets - The Silent Victims of Foreclosure

The housing catastrophe in this country has devastated many families and sad stories abound. But one very sad aspect of the situation is below the radar screen for many: the fate of the beloved family pet. It is frequently inconvenient to find a new home, or even a relative to care for these animals when the family must find other accomodations. And many apartment complexes and even single family rental homes do not allow pets.

It is not uncommon for "trash-out" services to find pets that have been left behind and are near starvation. Other animals are just put outside and left to fend for themselves. The chances of a lifelong house pet surviving in the wild are slim.

There is no question that the current housing situation has wreaked havoc on many American families. Literally millions of families have been forced to leave their homes. In the chaos of a foreclosure, there are obviously many concerns: Where we will go? What do we do with all our stuff? Can I find a landlord that will accept me after a foreclosure? Will my children be traumatized by the move? On and on, the anxieties mount. If illness, job loss, or divorce is a part of the picture, the stress increases by orders of magnitude. Although I don't condone abandoning an animal to freeze or starve, I can only imagine the stress level of some of these people.

If you or someone you know is agonizing over what to do with pets in these circumstances, there are numerous local rescue operations here in Northern Nevada that will help. Perhaps the best is Washoe County Regional Animal Services on Longley Lane. They are a first rate organization in my opinion and experience. Animals are very well treated and they have one of the highest save rates in the country for animals brought in to their facility. They work closely with the Humane Society and other citizen groups to arrange adoptions for animals that are not claimed by their owners. They also perform a number of other services, such as microchip implants, dog licensing, and prevention of animal cruelty. So please don't feel there are no alternative to abandonment; your pets are your responsibility and are counting on you for their welfare.